AS part of Diabetes Week (12 to 18 June), Rosemond Kyere-Diabour, one of our community diabetes nurse specialist practitioners, gives an overview below of treating and managing diabetes.
Treating diabetes
With Type 1, you will be advised to administer insulin because your pancreas is unable to produce it.
You will also be advised on how to dispose of your needles safely.
With Type 2, you may be given medicine in either tablet or injection form to keep your blood sugar level at a healthy level, or an insulin injection. Or you may need all of them, depending on the situation.
Managing your blood glucose levels
Carrying out regular checks will help you manage your diabetes.
You can monitor your blood glucose levels with a finger-prick device, or you can use a flash or continuous glucose monitoring device.
There is also a HbA1c blood test, which measures your average blood sugar level over three months.
You can find out more about glucose monitoring devices on the Diabetes UK website.
Routine checks can also help you identify if your blood glucose is too low (we call this hypoglycaemia), or too high (hyperglycaemia).
When someone is suffering hypoglycaemia, they may feel hungry, confused, sweaty, and react slowly.
If someone has hyperglycaemia, they will be advised to adjust their medication appropriately.
If their blood sugar level continues to rise, they could be at risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis, when there is a severe lack of insulin in the body.
A blood or urine test can show if ketones are present, which is an indicator there is not enough insulin in the body.
Instead of using sugar for energy, it uses fat instead. This releases ketones, which can make your blood acidic if they continue to build up.
You will be advised to adjust your insulin to bring the ketone levels down. If you are unable to do this at home, you will be advised to seek urgent medical care.
Other checks
If you have diabetes, you will be asked to test your urine for proteins, as this may be an early sign of kidney disease.
You will also be advised to keep your blood pressure levels at a safe level. This will help prevent the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Diabetes can also affect blood circulation to your feet, which may lead to problems including slow healing cuts and wounds.
If left untreated, this can lead to worsening problems, including amputation in the worst case scenario.
It’s also important to have your regular diabetes health checks and medication reviews.
Managing diabetes through changes to your lifestyle
It is important to exercise, have healthy eating habits, reduce alcohol intake and stop smoking.
This will help you manage your blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
And if you don’t have diabetes, it will help lower your risk of developing Type 2.
There are different courses for people with Type 1 and Type 2 to help you learn more about managing your diabetes.
For example, for those with Type 1, the Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE) course gives you advice on how carbohydrates impact your blood glucose levels and how to use insulin according to your carbohydrate intake.
If you have Type 2, the X-PERT course advises you on healthy living, and managing your carbohydrate intake and glucose levels.
If you have any problems in managing with your diabetes, please contact your healthcare professional.
We run a number of services in parts of Essex to help people who have been diagnosed with diabetes and support them to manage their condition. This includes advice and education programmes.
If you live in mid and south Essex, visit the Community Diabetes Service page on our website for more information.
If you live in west Essex, visit the West Essex Community Specialist Diabetes Service pages.
Thank you so very much for the tips. I every morning prick my finger and so far so good. I read articles like this which have been of great help to me managing type 2.